Wedding Planner Central

Costs · 2026

Wedding budget breakdown by state

Average total wedding spend by US state, based on public benchmarks and vendor-published pricing. Ranges reflect metro vs. rural gap within each state.

Every couple asks, "Is my number normal?" It depends heavily on where you're marrying. Here's the breakdown.

StateRange (2026)Notes
New Jersey$60k–$80kHighest US average — venue + per-plate premiums
New York$55k–$75kNYC skews higher; upstate closer to national average
Massachusetts$45k–$65kBoston + Cape Cod premium
California$40k–$70kLA/SF/Napa top of range; Central Valley lowest
Connecticut$45k–$60kCoastal & historic estate weddings
Rhode Island$40k–$55kNewport premium
Illinois$35k–$55kChicago-heavy average
Florida$32k–$48kMiami premium; PCB/Destin affordable
Colorado$32k–$45kMountain venues add rental cost
Washington$32k–$45kSeattle metro average
Virginia$32k–$45kHistoric & vineyard venues
Texas$28k–$42kAustin premium; rural TX far below
Pennsylvania$28k–$42kPhilly premium; Amish country far below
Georgia$28k–$42kAtlanta average; small-town GA lower
North Carolina$26k–$40kCharlotte/Asheville mid-range
Arizona$26k–$40kScottsdale/Sedona premium
Ohio$22k–$35kConsistently below national average
Michigan$22k–$34kDetroit metro + lake resort venues
Oklahoma$18k–$30kLowest-cost region for barn/farm weddings
Utah$18k–$28kLDS-community weddings often much smaller
Mississippi$17k–$26kOne of the most affordable states

Why the spread is so wide

Metro cost of living, venue availability, and catering minimums drive most of the difference. A 120-guest wedding in Manhattan and a 120-guest wedding in rural Mississippi can differ by 3×.

Dig into your state

Sources

Ranges reflect a synthesis of publicly reported industry benchmarks (The Wedding Report, Zola, and state tourism office publications), plus vendor-published pricing on venue websites. Ranges are directional, not exact — every wedding differs by guest count, style, and season.

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